Why Penn Station and LaGuardia's Makeovers Are Good News for NYC Visitors

Upgrades have been announced for two of New York's biggest transit hubs.

Penn Station and LaGuardia Airport are two of New York City's most important transportation hubs—and, unfortunately, they're also two of the most unkempt. But new plans to fix up and improve these important centers have recently been announced, which is good news for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who come into New York via either one or the other.

The proposed plan for Penn Station—which was originally built in 1910 by legendary architect Stanford White, then demolished and rebuilt in 1963 as the building we know (and loathe) today—also includes the large post office building across the street and will be called the "Empire Station Complex." Some of the elements are new (neutral color palettes, floor-to-ceiling windows, amphitheater-style seating), while some are an attempt to restore the features of the original building (arched skylights). For visitors who arrive in New York City on buses from New Jersey or trains from Pennsylvania or Washington, D.C., the city could make a much nicer first impression. Especially if there's free Wi-Fi. (Hint hint.)

Meanwhile, the much-maligned LaGuardia Airport, which regularly tops Condé Nast Traveler's readers' poll of America's worst airports, is also getting a new look. Cuomo's plan for the airport focuses heavily on transit, with a possible ferry terminal, airport hotel, additional parking lots, and a direct link from the subway all making the airport more accessible. Delta Air Lines's upgraded terminal at LaGuardia has already improved the airport, with a wider range of food options and better tech access (including iPads for ordering said food).

However, if Governor Cuomo is already looking for other ways to improve a traveler's impression of New York City on first arrival, might we suggest he take a look at America's number two and three lowest-rated airports? Those would be Newark and JFK, incidentally.